Blame the coaches for QB problems

SEATTLE – Free Press sportswriter Tony Garcia assesses Michigan football's performance in Saturday's 27-17 loss to Washington in Seattle on its first road trip of the 2024 season:

Offense: C

This is a grade for the Jack Tuttle-led offense as this is likely to happen in the future. The good news: Michigan now has a capable passer after Tuttle replaced Alex Orji (who is 23-for-43 passing for 148 yards this season). Tuttle demonstrated his power on several occasions, most notably on his 22-yard strike to Amorion Walker on third-and-10 early in the third quarter, when he went through at least three reads in his run before firing a dart over the middle for UM's first “Explosive” passing game since Week 3.

RAINER SABIN: Jack Tuttle's Michigan football debut in 2024 is the same old story: lax ball security

Tuttle – cool, calm and collected most of the time – showed he can extend plays with his legs, with two 7-yard rushes on first down (one of which was intentional) to get UM in front of the chains and coming some simple pitch-and-catches. Tuttle completed seven of his first nine attempts, three for at least 15 yards, but then threw five straight incompletions.

After Tuttle's first three drives resulted in points, UM's last five drives went as follows: Punt, punt, fumble, interception, game over.

“I called his name at the last minute, went out and executed,” tight end Colston Loveland said. “Obviously there's a lot of cleaning up to do between all of us… but he's super proud of what he's done. Didn’t flinch at all, accepted the challenge.”

It wasn't a great afternoon for lead back Kalel Mullings, who ran 14 times for 49 yards, but the seemingly more explosive Donovan Edwards ran 14 times for 95 yards, including a 39-yard score and two receptions for 23 yards. Despite missing two starting players, this version of the attack is more sustained than the version from the last two weeks. Now, with a bye week, UM has two weeks to organize the attack around Tuttle.

Defense: C

The Wolverines forced three punts, including two three-and-outs, and Ernest Hausmann made a timely interception in the fourth quarter. But a season ago there seemed to be more head-scratching moments than chest-busting moments for the country's top team.

The Huskies converted five of 11 third downs, including three of 8 yards or longer, and continued to struggle in the passing game. Huskies QB Will Rogers completed 21 of 31 throws for 279 yards and two touchdowns and had an astonishing nine plays through the air of 15 yards or more (and three of at least 35 yards). The defense had some tough positions early on, but also allowed three drives of at least 50 yards in Washington's first four and seven of 11 drives that resulted in points (or an attempt at them, with two missed field goals).

“We have to do a better job of staying in space and playing with the fundamentals,” head coach Sherrone Moore said. “We have to get better at getting to the ball. If we can do that, we’re a pretty good defense, so we’ll keep working on that.”

Special teams: C-plus

Dominic Zvada hit a 45-yard field goal in the second quarter to bring Michigan within four points, and Mason Graham blocked a 29-yard field goal attempt as the first half expired. Those were the highlights.

A holding call wiped out UM's best punt return and punter Tommy Doman averaged just 37 yards per punt (on five attempts) while once holding the Huskies within their 20 yards.

Coaching: D-plus

The big question: Why didn't Jack Tuttle start this game? Over the last two weeks, despite the wins, Orji had shown that he couldn't move the ball in the passing game, meaning it was only a matter of time before the defense attacked Mullings, Edwards and Orji in the backfield. That happened on Saturday.

Why didn't they go to Tuttle sooner? He has struggled with injuries over the past 10 months and was not available as an option until he was released last week. But after that and after a week of practice? Had Tuttle started from the start, there might not have been a 14-point hole early on. It appears that the coaching staff continues to put the team in a sub-optimal position.

Offense: C

Defense: C

Special teams: C-plus

Coaching: D-plus

Leave a Reply Cancel reply